Soccer: Glory days for rampant Kingz

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Last night's 4-1 victory over highly-rated Perth Glory deservedly earned the Football Kingz their biggest win of the national soccer league season - and handed the visitors their biggest loss in 17 outings.

There was no place for the timid at North Harbour Stadium.

In a sometimes spiteful encounter, four Perth players were booked and two sent off. In contrast, the home side had three players booked - all for silly, minor offences.

For Dino Mennillo - later named man of the match - and Marcus Stergiopoulos, the yellow cards were doubly-expensive as they will miss Saturday's away game with Brisbane.

The West Australians, surely the biggest team in the NSL, out-muscled the home side in the early exchanges but at a cost. The visitors' four bookings and dismissal of Hamilton Thorp occurred in the first 45 minutes.

Thorp's 39th-minute dismissal following a foul on Levent Osman - Edgar Junior was booked in the same incident - gave the Kingz the impetus to push forward.

Less than a minute on, Mark Elrick gathered a ball from Robbie Middleby outside the penalty area and whacked a first-time shot which gave goalkeeper Jason Petkovic no chance.

But, rather than settle down, retain possession and play out the remaining minutes of the spell, the Kingz became impatient.

Alistair Edwards beat a Che Bunce challenge, slipped the ball to Troy Halpin who ran a couple of paces before striking the ball along the ground. His shot snuck inside the near post and past Michael Utting's despairing dive.

The second half, never short on excitement, was dominated by the home side.

They regained the lead in the 55th minute when Mennillo thumped home another long-range shot. Mennillo and Aaron Silva combined a few minutes later but were denied by the swarming defence.

The Kingz, with the small but vocal crowd firmly behind them, kept pressing.

Middleby turned defence into attack with a long ball. Silva swooped, beat a half-hearted tackle and slipped the ball to Mennillo, who drew Petkovic and pushed home for 3-1 in the 83rd minute.

Six minutes later Halpin spoilt what had otherwise been an outstanding game with a crude tackle on Mennillo and was sent packing.

Three minutes into added time Silva was rewarded for a busy game when he scored from a goalmouth melee when the Perth defence failed to clear a left-wing corner.

It was a spirited showing by the Kingz who were below full strength and took the opportunity to rest leg-weary Harry Ngata and Ivan Vicelich, who had both had strong games.